Announcing the Winners of the 2025 Garden Competition

This year’s Garden Competition transported us all to the coast, with our community turning their serene garden areas into vibrant celebrations of our theme, 'A Day at the Seaside.' From sandy creations and amusing games to scrumptious food and seaside inspired decorations, the creativity, enthusiasm, and jubilation on display was nothing short of extraordinary. Each of our homes provided their own unique experience, perfectly combining the relaxing ambience and joy of the seaside with their stunning outdoor spaces.

Exmouth House

Our loving community in Exmouth kicked things off in style with 'Exmouth House Ice’s, Est 2025' – a portable ice cream service delivered from a cleverly transformed bicycle. Serving up, 'Delight in every Bite', this imaginative invention was certainly a great success! While everyone enjoyed their tasty treat, the soothing sound of acoustic guitar filled the air as everyone clapped and sang along. A beautiful picture show displayed their nostalgic competition video, while nearby the souvenir shop brimmed with impressively handcrafted goodies, adding a lovely personal touch while capturing the heart of the seaside theme. Similarly, the grand aquarium display in the windows shimmered with vivid colours and eye catching sea-themed designs, undoubtedly a dazzling spectacle!

In keeping with the sandy theme, games like Hook-a-Duck, Coconut Shy, and Ring Toss brought laughter (and a slight air of competitiveness) to the garden, as everyone tested their abilities on the terrific variety of amusements. Classic chips in cones were enjoyed under the sunshine, and the paddling pool sandpit saw both impressive sandcastles and a number of hilarious collapses! Nearby, an old rowing boat sat positioned neatly on the porch with colourful flags attached, making the perfect photo spot. As joyful conversations and delight echoed through the garden, the day was made extra special as we welcomed the Mayor of Exmouth along for the ride. Well and truly a fabulous day for everyone involved!

Ernstell House

Our exceptional community in Plymouth embraced the spirit of the seaside with their captivating competition experience. The innovative, 'Sweet Retreat' was a dessert lover’s dream, where ice cream was served, with a wide variety of toppings and sauces to choose from. As everyone eagerly awaited their turn to choose from the yummy selection, Nelson, our Home Manager at Ernstell House, proudly wore his chef hat, taking on the new role serving ice cream with infectious commitment. One can confidently say the smiles were widespread, as scoops were dished out - and devoured shortly after!

The garden was refashioned into a coastal inspired landscape, with quirky sandcastle replicas towering throughout the outdoor space. Beneath them, some heartwarming artwork added a splash of colour, showcasing our collective talent and inventiveness. The Sandy Striker game proved to be a hit, drawing cheers and applause as our keen participants demonstrated their accurate aim. Additionally, the circus photo curtain had everyone in stitches, similar to the Sunny Swing crazy golf course, which offered up plenty of competitive fun! The Cocktail Parlour kept everyone refreshed with a fruity array of drinks available, while bean bag tossing and sandpit creations added to the endless fun. Resourcefulness and joy were evident in every detail, as our luscious outdoor space was reimagined to resemble a action-packed day at the seaside. It was a celebration that will certainly live long in our hearts.

Signature House

Signature House well and truly made waves with their seaside themed garden oasis, blending creativity, laughter and a collection of heartfelt moments into an unforgettable day. Alongside the fun and games, the day was made even more special, as we celebrated Maria’s 10 Year Long Service Award. We would like to give our upmost congratulations to Maria for her unwavering dedication and exceptional work. What an incredible achievement!

Immediately, the Weymouth Wanderer makeshift bus and Tony’s Surf Shack were both indisputably standout features! Both were vibrantly decorated, displaying the artistic brilliance of our residents and team. The shack is centred around a lovingly crafted surfboard, adorned with handprints from our beloved residents – a beautiful tribute to the love and connection we share with one another. The constant buzz and laughter was elevated even further, thanks to the coastal inspired face-in-hole board. It quickly became a crowd favourite, especially when wet sponges made an appearance, introducing a splash-filled spectacle that had everyone giggling! Further emphasising the shoreline charm, flavourful fish and chips were on the menu! The irresistible aroma filled the air, bringing the taste of the coast right to the garden, while everyone sat back and enjoyed some excellent company.

The garden bloomed with seaside decorations and handcrafted props made by our remarkable residents, with every detail thoughtfully placed to create an inviting and immersive experience. The warm atmosphere was further enhanced by a pleasant surprise, a visit from a pair of friendly donkeys! The gentle visitors trotted in and were met with instant adoration, as everyone gathered to meet the guests and enjoy their share of photos. To cool off, Rossi’s Ice’s offered a selection of indulgent frozen treats, while the comfy sun loungers provided the ideal spot to soak up the sunshine. Finishing the day in style, the Signature Singers provided (as usual) a superb performance, which was met with swift applause and cheers, while the creation of shell-decorated structures for the sandcastle competition completed the coastal magic. A true seaside escape, it was an afternoon to remember in Dorchester!

St Johns Court

St Johns Court began their seaside-themed celebration with a burst of energy and laughter in the cosy lounge, where parachute games and a flurry of colourful beach balls set the tone for a day of fun! The room was bursting with excitement, as singing, dancing and a slight sense of joyful chaos had erupted. After the indoor activities came to a halt, anticipation began to build while everyone started to head outside to the seaside-themed garden.

Bubble blowing, handmade palm trees, and cheeky seagull models brought the coastal scene to life and showcased the artistic abilities of our family at St Johns Court. Bursting with surf and seaside objects, the garden was absolutely flourishing, with glorious paintings, an iconic HMS 4 Life ring, various beach umbrellas and an admirable beach hut banner on display. It was without a doubt a sight to behold! The seaside inspired face-in-hole board proved instantly popular, with everyone cracking jokes and snapping photos that will be treasured for years to come. In the meantime, the sandpit offered a hands-on experience, providing guests with a chance to create their own personal sandy constructions, reminiscent of those days spent on the shoreline. On top of that, a classic game of ring toss had everyone getting competitive, as well as bringing its fair share of chuckles to the table!

A special moment was the ‘St John’s at the Seaside’ puppet show, performed from a beautifully crafted booth with illustrated panels -  a masterpiece of imagination to say the least! Bringing further humour and conversation to the already palpable occasion, the puppet show provided top-notch entertainment, as well as further showcasing the impressive talent of our community in Bromsgrove. Comforting, satisfying and perfectly themed, it was once again a delicious serving of fish & chips to round out the festivities, finishing off another spectacular experience for everyone involved.

The Orchards

The Orchards delivered a seaside themed celebration filled to the brim with charm, creativity and community spirit. The garden was alive with photo-worthy moments in every corner. From buckets, spades and a rowing boat filled with seaside foliage, to a 'Welcome Aboard' life ring and the hilarious ‘It’s Great Here’ banner, the tone was set for a day full of smiles and sunshine.

‘Costume craziness’ was a reoccurring theme across our Garden Competition this year, and at The Orchards in particular, a brilliant variety were present – from a friendly donkey and crafty crocodile to a lobster, shark, Punch & Judy, seagull and even a fish & chips inspired outfit! Alongside the fantastic costumes, the porch had become a sandy shoreline to match, complete with beach umbrellas, loungers and a mischievous crocodile keeping watch. A lively round of mini golf tested everyone’s skills and brought with it an excited crowd, watching on in suspense. Shortly after, some members of our team even embraced their inner lifeguards, dressing for the occasion and posing for some excellent photos. Complete with a dinghy nearby, they were all set for an ocean adventure!

Instead of the usual fish & chips, guests enjoyed inventive seaside-inspired snacks, cleverly disguised as coastal objects to the amusement of everyone involved. Star fish sandwiches, beach balls, pool noodles and buckets of fish food, as well as a variety of other options were available, forming a selection of treats to choose from. The comical face-in-hole board provided plenty of laughs as per usual, while the paddling pool filled with plastic bottles was a thought-provoking environmental statement, highlighting ocean pollution – an important message woven into a magical day. Seaside props like the captain’s wheel, fishing net, and pretty shells added the final touches to an unforgettable day.

Beyond the festivities, The Orchards also shone with their commitment to biodiversity and sustainability. Their wonderfully maintained garden supports nature of all forms and is a beautiful sight to see. Additionally, their strong ties with the local community of Crewkerne shone through with the incredible number of donations they received, and the amazing voluntary work done with the residents in the garden. Furthermore, their commendable dedication to recycling is inspirational to say the least, with the team even collecting litter on the beach during a recent trip to Weymouth, Dorset. Like our other homes, it was (following in suit) a superb day and we’re so grateful to everyone who got involved.

Joint Winners – Signature House & The Orchards!

Congratulations to Signature House and The Orchards, our joint winners for 2025, who received equal scores, but shone brightly in their own unique ways.

Signature House – excelled in Creativity/Consideration of the theme and Residents Involvement

Some Judges comments:  "Clearly lots of thought given to the theme, starting with the ‘Weymouth Wanderer’, the wonderful ‘Signature Singers’ and Tony’s Superb Surf Shack.  Loved the residents handprints on the surfboard"

"Residents had been involved from the beginning, with the making of props and potting of baskets and were even called upon to be judges themselves for the sandcastle competition’.  Lovely to see so many friends and family enjoying the day"

"Wonderful scene setting"

The Orchards – excelled in Biodiversity and Sourcing of resources

Some Judges comments:  

"Incredible efforts made to encourage biodiversity, it is clear that this is an ongoing project for The Orchards"

"Great biodiversity awareness here, with the creation of a lovely wildlife garden environment for the birds, bees and insects.  Enjoyed the speeches telling us about their biodiversity work with the local community"

"Tremendous effort made to secure donations and recycle.  It clear that The Orchards is beloved by the community"

"Lots of recycling apparent in the theme and enlisting the help of local residents who were happy to give their own time"

While Signature House and The Orchards share the title, we are equally proud of all our homes, each of whom created something truly special for this year’s competition. We would like to give a huge thank you to every resident, staff member, and visitor who helped bring our “Day at the Seaside” Garden Competition to life – we are forever grateful! The dedication, imagination, and teamwork shown across our joyful community was (as always) remarkable, and served as a heartwarming testament to the creativity, fun and love we foster all year round.